For me, the saddest stories are about needless human suffering, suffering caused by greed, hate, or more maddeningly, the inability of responsible people to act responsively. Minamata and Fukushima are both that kind of story.

I was really hoping to be done after chemo. However, the Silver Lining is that radiation is a highly targeted, highly effective way to destroy cancer cells in the breast that may stick around after surgery.

Here is my plan in Japan: Organize mothers throughout the country to go with government officials to measure food stuffs together. Seeing is believing. If mothers give the green light, then this can be an important part of the trust rebuilding process.

There is a perception that the radiation that you get from dental X-rays is "bad." I'm here to tell you that is not so, and that I believe that the information your dentist gleams from x-rays is well worth the scant amounts of radiation.

We have yet to see the full toll of 9/11 among first responders, even 10 years out. All relevant resources should be made available to address the burden of illness shouldered by these brave souls who rushed toward the very thing most of us with just average courage would flee.

Earlier this month, it was reported high levels of cesium were found on tea leaves in Shizuoka. Shortly thereafter, the Shizuoka Prefectural government asked the tea company that reported this to refrain from carrying information on its website.